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Salone’s Favorite Seasoning Onga, Celebrates Customers Across Freetown

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By Foday Moriba Conteh
Following the successful introduction and growth of the Onga food seasoning brand on the Sierra Leone culinary market, Premium Divine Trading Company Limited, strategic agents of Promasidor Holdings decided to appreciate their female customers using the 2022 International Women’s Day week.
The event involved visits to all major markets across Freetown amidst drumming and dancing to the nation’s favorite Bubu dance.
The week long event enabled Premium Divine Trading to intersect with Onga Mummies and Women across all the major markets in Freetown which included Waterloo, Goderich, Lumley, Portee, Calaba Town, Congo, Krootown Road and Dove Cut Markets.
The move by Onga was to appreciate all of their Onga mummies for their continued business loyalty over the five years of their existence on the Sierra Leone culinary market.
During their visit to these markets the company offered free product samples of their new Onga stew and beef to women, which was also followed by free gifts to Onga Mummies through a lucky dip which was surprising and gratifying to all market women.
The Onga mummies later commended Onga for such an initiative never witnessed before in the country and pledge their continued loyalty to the brand ensuring it’s growth in the years to come.
Speaking to this medium, the Country Manager of Premium Divine Trading Limited, Kenneth Konuah, said they are holding such an event and doing so with the strong belief that it will help in motivating the Onga Mummies and Women of Sierra Leone to continue to patronize the brand within the country.
He disclosed that the Premium Divine Trading Company Ltd is a company that markets and distributes food products and that when it comes to food women play critical roles.
The Country Manager informed all present that the Premium Divine Trading Company Ltd distributes and markets Cowbell, Miksi, Xploza, Kremela and Onga which has become salone’s favourite seasoning.
Onga comes in various variants which includes: Onga Beef Flavour, Onga Shrimp Crevette, Onga Chicken Poulet, and finally the new Onga Stew Flavour which is an improvement over the earlier one introduced. He intimated that all of these products are produced in Ghana by Promasidor Ghana Limited for export sales to some West African countries including Sierra Leone. He revealed that Premium Divine Trading is the sole distributor and marketer of all the aforementioned products in the country.
He concluded by encouraging all women in Sierra Leone to continue to patronize the company in all their products especially the new Onga Stew Flavour which he described as one of the best favourite food seasoning in the country.
On her part, the Marketing Executive of Premium Divine Trading Limited, Isha Bangura stated that every year women from every corner of the globe come together on March 8 to celebrate women, which, she maintained, as a responsible company they thought it fit to celebrate their Onga mummies.
She also revealed that the business entity is a food distribution company that operates as an agent for Promasidor Holdings ,a leading supplier of quality food products in more than 30 African countries, including Sierra Leone stating that their products are affordable and nutritional.
She said they have been selling and distributing products like Cowbell, Miksi, Xploza, Yumvita and Onga, which they are using to celebrate their wonderful women.
Fatu Sesay one of Onga Mummy who benefited from the gesture by the company, commended the company for such an initiative stating how they have never experienced such in the country even as the world celebrates International Women’s Day.
She revealed that she has been cooking with Onga all this while and that Onga is the best food seasoning in the country, continuing that the new Onga Stew Flavour is exceptional among all other food seasoning in the country.
She stated that the move by the company to celebrate them has served as a motivation to all Onga Mummies and Women in order for them to continue to patronize with the company.
“Today I want to use this opportunity to wish all women across the country Happy International Women’s Day and I would also want to inform all women across the country that Onga is the best food seasoning that gives your food a wonderful and perfect taste. Let us all as women continue to buy Onga products, ”she concluded.

President Bio in Viet Nam to Strengthen Bi-Lateral Ties

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By Esther Wright

President Dr Julius Maada Bio has arrived in Hanoi, the capital city of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, on the 14th March 2022  at the invitation of His Excellency Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who initiated the discussions around bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

It could be recalled that the Vietnamese President extended an invitation to President Bio when they met at the 76th UN General Assembly in New York on 23 September 2021, praising his ability to maintain political and social stability in the resource-rich West African nation and thanking him for his kind words on Vietnam’s development.

On the margins of the UN meeting of leaders, President Xuan Phuc formally invited President Bio to visit his country and expressed a desire for the two countries to establish diplomatic relations.

“I am confident that under your leadership the cooperation will grow stronger and stronger. I am looking forward to welcoming you to Vietnam,” he said some six months ago.

President Bio had accepted the invitation and noted at the time that: “I accept the invitation very kindly, and I am delighted for the series of proposals to establish cooperation between our two countries”. Both Presidents had also agreed on exploring trade and investment opportunities.

His visit will focus on six key areas including the signing of an agreement for the supply of rice, investing in capacity building in mechanized farming, provide technical expertise to the value chain in fish production among others.

During the last 18 years, the exports of Vietnam to Sierra Leone increased at an annualized rate of 14.6%, from $854,000 in 2000 to $9.9 million in 2018. Vietnam had shipped an estimated $348 billion worth of goods around the globe in 2020 alone.

Located in a strategic position for foreign companies with operations throughout Southeast Asia, Vietnam is an ideal export hub for countries like Sierra Leone to reach members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The President is accompanied by the First Lady Fatima Bio, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Professor John Francis, Chief Minister, Jacob Jusu Saffa, Minister of Agriculture, Dr Abu Bakarr Karim, Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Edward Sandy, Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Honourable Emma Kowa-Jalloh and the Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr Francis Kaikai.

Presidential, Parliamentary & Council Elections to Hold on 24th June 2023

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By Amin Kef Sesay

After much contemplation and theories bordering around the date for the country’s Presidential Election, the country’s Electoral Commission has finally announced that the date for Presidential Election is the 24th June, 2023 days after the President’s office announced the same date for Parliamentary and Local Council elections.

During the announcement by the Chairman and Commissioner of the National Electoral Commission, Mohamed Konneh, he categorically stated that they, as an electoral management body, are prepared to review electoral boundaries if the need arises.

Dates for the registration of eligible voters have also been announced and it will run from September 3, 2022, to October 4, 2022. The registration will be done biometrically in all communities across the country.

The National Elections Watch (NEW), it was said, welcomed the “timely” announcement, calling on the authorities to ensure proper public education ahead of the polls.

The local council elections were to be conducted this year, but they were postponed due to logistical reasons, according to the Government.

Through a legislative amendment, the tenure of councils was extended to merge with the Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

While recognizing the “timely proclamations” of the election dates as best practice, NEW says it is a first step towards ensuring credible, transparent and accountable electoral process.

“Voter Registration is an integral part of the electoral process and therefore requires special attention,” it states.

There has been a public debate on how to acquire the voter register vis-à-vis the role of the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA). The Government had said that the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone will extract its data from the NCRA’s database to develop its voter register, a proposal the opposition has a reservation with.

NEW calls on the authorities to publish the steps that are involved and scenarios expected at the Registration centres.

ACC Reveals Actions & Interventions taken on 2019/2020 Auditor General’s Reports

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By Esther Wright

In a Media Release dated 15th March 2022, the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) stated how it wishes to update the general public of the actions and steps it has taken to address critical issues raised in the 2019 and 2020 Auditor General’s Reports of Sierra Leone.

The ACC continued that those interventions focused on aspects of possible or alleged corruption and conducts inconsistent with provision(s) in the Anti-Corruption Act of 2008 as amended in 2019.

It furthered that after a thorough review and analysis of the aforementioned Reports, the Commission initiated actions; with a view to investigating, prosecuting or recovering public funds, public revenue, public property, as the case maybe, in accordance with Sections 7, and 48 of the Anti-Corruption Act of 2008 as amended in 2019, respectively.

The anti graft institution pointed out that the public may recall that, the ACC through its serialized Media Releases had updated the public that, it recovered and returned to the State a total sum of over Two Billion Leones , arising from issues in the 2015-2018 Audit Reports, charged Two matters to court and examined the practices and procedures of public bodies, advised on changes in practices with a view to limiting the corruption opportunities and structural vulnerabilities and the development of best practices accordingly.

It then went on to identify some of the issues and areas of ACC interventions and the outcomes of same:

With regards the Bombali District Council the ACC said the 2019 Auditor General’s Report alleged misappropriation of Public Funds emanating from unmerited sitting fees paid to Councilors amounting to Six Million, Three Hundred and Thirty Thousand Leones (Le 6,330,000). In that regard the  ACC says investigation established that indeed unmerited sitting fees totaling the said sum were paid to absentee Councilors and the Commission ordered the Council to refund the full amount. The full amount has been refunded by the Council.

For the Koinadugu District Council the ACC revealed how the 2019 Auditor General’s Report alleged that the Koinadugu District Council failed to pay withholding tax of Sixteen Million Seven Hundred and Fifty-nine Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty-three Leones (Le 16,759,853) to the National Revenue Authority (NRA).

It pointed out that their investigations showed that the said withholding tax was actually paid by the Council as evidenced by NRA receipts submitted by the Chief Administrator of the Council and confirmed by the NRA Officer in which three different payments, all amounting to Sixteen Million, Seven Hundred and Ninety Six Thousand, Four Hundred and Ninety One Leones (Le16, 796,491) were made into the NRA Account at the Union Trust Bank in Kabala.

In connection to the Freetown City Council the ACC stated that the 2019 Auditor General’s Report alleged that the  Council paid sitting fees to absentee Councilors totaling the sum of Sixty Million, Six Hundred and Ten Thousand Leones (Le 60,610,000), which included the sum of Forty-three Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand Leones (Le 43,470,000) which was paid as sitting fees to Councilors even when there were no sittings.

According to the ACC investigations, Section 30 (1)(a) of the Local Government Act of 2004 states that, remuneration, transport and other allowances shall be paid to Councilors, Chairpersons and Deputy Chairpersons as the Local Council may determine, whilst Section 30(2) states that, any allowances or remuneration paid shall be financed by the Local Council under the guidelines issued by the Ministry after consulting the Ministry of Finance.

The Commission continued that it sadly found out that no such guidelines exist and in some of the meetings, the Chief Administrator of the Council said some of the absentee Councilors were either attending other official functions, sick or took excuse for their absence.

The Commission said it has therefore instructed its Prevention Department to work with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and the Ministry of Finance with respect to the payment of allowances, including sitting fees.

For the Kambia District Council the ACC said it was highlighted in the 2019 Auditor General’s Report that Management of the Council misappropriated the sum of Twelve Million, Nine Hundred and Sixty-nine Thousand Leones (Le 12,969,000) as NASSIT contributions for staff of the Council. It continued that there was no evidence of misappropriation as, during the ACC investigations, the Council produced payment documents which were confirmed by NASSIT.

The ACC said the 2019 Auditor General’s Report alleged that the Ernest Bai Koroma University deducted withholding taxes from contractors in respect of procurement carried out for the years 2016 and 2017 but did not pay same to the National Revenue Authority. During the investigations, officials of the University took responsibility to refund the deducted withholding taxes and they have now paid a total sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Million, One Hundred and Fifty-five Thousand Leones (Le 250,155,000) into the ACC Account.

According to the anti-graft entity Njala University based on the 2019 Auditor General’s Report made claims that the officials of the University deducted the sum of Three Hundred and Twenty-seven Million Leones (Le 327,000,000) as withholding taxes from contracts awarded to contractors for the various procurement activities undertaken covering the periods 2016 to 2018 without paying the said deductions to the NRA. During the ACC investigations, the University officials admitted not paying the said withholding taxes and were therefore ordered to do full payment; which they have made into the Commission’s Account.

50/50 Group & Partners to Convene Two-Day National Conference on Gender Empowerment Bill

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By Mary Kabay

The 50/50 Group, with support from the European Union and in collaboration with its partners held a press conference at the entity’s auditorium on 50 OAU Drive, Tower Hill in Freetown on the 14th March 2022 ahead of a  two-day conference that will be organized for women from all walks of life across the sixteen districts of the country.

In attendance were members of the Fourth Estate comprising mainly female members, representatives from different women led organizations, Haja Demu Sesay,  Haja Mariama Fofana, Aisha Fofana Ibrahim, Haja Alimatu Y Abdullah, Programme Manager, Sahr Kendema,  Dr.Nemata Majeks- Walker and Yasmin Jusu-Sheriff Regional Executive Member, all of the 50/50 Group.

Sahr Kendema and Madam Yasmin Jusu-Sheriff informed all present that the two-day conference which is slated to be held on the 16th and 17th March 2022 will serve as a platform to discuss issues around the Gender Equality and Women Empowerment Bill out of which recommendations will be made in order to have one message that all women adhere to regardless of their various stations in life.

According to Sahr looking at the gender equality and women empowerment bill there are amendments that should be done before taking the Bill to Parliament admonishing that  all women  need to speak with one voice irrespective of the office or place they find themselves.

On her part, the Regional Executive member, Madam Yasmin Jusu-Sheriff underscored that the national conference for women is meant  to meant for women to speak with one voice to the Government about the need for more inclusion into governance and other State matters.

She added that from now to the next thirty years they will no longer be more effective to be female champions maintaining that if the younger ones are not being given the right platform in the constitution and other legal papers the rights of women will be trampled upon. She also admonished the young girls to come onboard and play active roles in the gender equality and women empowerment bill for them to understand the scope of how things are done.

Madam Yasmin encouraged all women and the media to be precise to join them stating how thirty years before this time they were very young and thirty years after they are now old and the success of achieving such now lies in the hands of  the young generation.

The conference was climaxed by the present President of the 50/50 Group, Haja Alimatu Y Abdullah reading a Press Release which states:

National Women’s Conference on the Theme: Gender Equality and Women Empowerment (GEWE) in an Age of Constitutional Change:

The 50/50 Group, with support from European Union and in collaboration with its partners :ActionAid International SL, the Institute for Legal Research and Advocacy for  Justice, Campaign for Good Governance, Search for Common Grounds, Trocair and Manor River Women’s Peace Network(MARWOPNET) are organizing a national women’s  conference  from the 16th to 17th  March 2022 at the 50/50 Auditorium, 50 OAU Drive Tower Hill on the theme: “Gender Equality and Women Empowerment  in an Age of Constitutional Change”.

The conference will bring together women from all the sixteen districts of Sierra Leone and different economic, political and social backgrounds to discuss priority areas identified in the 2021 GEWE Bill, the Government White Paper vis-a- vis the Women’s Position Paper on the Constitutional Review Process and develop a national action plan that can guide parliamentarians in enactment of A GEWE LAW FOR ALL. The Rt. Hon. Speaker Dr. Abass Bundu will deliver the keynote address.

The invited guest will be diplomats, Parliamentarians, Cabinet Ministers and others who will deliver statements on behalf of their institutions. There will also be panel discussion during which eminent women who are committed to gender equality and women’s empowerment will give their perspectives and map the way forward for gender equality for sustainable development.

 

Starving Freetown of Electricity by EGTC & EDSA is Unacceptable

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By  Amin Kef Sesay

It is high time that both the Government and its institutions that are supposed to provide the people with basic essential goods and services failure to do so reflects badly on the image of the Government both at home and abroad.

It is inexcusable that for several days now EGTC and EDSA that are responsible for electricity generation and distribution have starved over one million residents of the capital city from electricity supply.

The loss to the manufacturing, service and business communities is huge.

One simply cannot understand why with the tens of millions of dollars that both Government and international development partners have poured into the energy sector, there has since the 1970s always been a one step forward one step backward movement in the supply of constant and reliable electricity to the capital city.

For example, at the end of January 28, 2021, the World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved a $50 million grant from the International Development Association (IDA) to improve access to electricity in Sierra Leone and enhance institutional capacity and commercial management of the sector. The project was also co-financed with a $2.7 million grant by the Japan Policy and Human Resources Development Fund.

This Enhancing Sierra Leone Energy Access Project was supposed to support the country’s post COVID-19 economic recovery by providing electricity to households, businesses, health clinics and schools, which is a critical part of the recovery process.

It was also to support the replacement of costly fuel generation plants with low cost power, which would free up scarce fiscal resources for other urgent socio-economic needs.

In spite of what has been done so far by the Ministry of Energy and its agencies to improve on the supply of electricity, there still remains much more to do to reduce the access to electricity gap in the capital city – the hub of commerce, manufacturing and service industries including hotels, restaurants, etc.

According to the World Bank, only 23% of Sierra Leoneans have access to electricity, which is below the Sub-Saharan average of 30%.

The gap in infrastructure is not only impacting people’s welfare and ability to access services, it is also severely impeding on competitiveness, job creation and poverty reduction.

Private companies mention inadequate electricity provision as a major cause for high costs, disrupted production and reduced profitability.

“Improving access to electricity in Sierra Leone is a critical development accelerator. This project will help address the country’s key infrastructure deficits, which is one of the most fundamental elements for promoting sustainable growth and job creation in the COVID-19 recovery,” said Gayle Martin, the then World Bank Country Manager for Sierra Leone.

“More efforts are needed to improve the sector’s efficiency, as well as its overall financial sustainability. In addition to financing, the World Bank is also supporting a robust analytic and knowledge agenda.”

‘Advocates for Sexual & Reproductive Health Rights’ Engage MPs & MDAs on Safe Abortion Bill

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By Foday Moriba Conteh

Dr. Francis Smart, the Director of Policy and Planning Implementation at the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, during an engagement with the Advocates for Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) on the 10th March 2022 at the New Brookfield’s Hotel on Jomo Kenyatta Road in Freetown, stated that Sierra Leone has one of the highest reported maternal mortality ratios in the world.

The Non-Governmental Organization was engaging Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and Members of Parliament on the status of sexual reproductive health issues in the country.

Dr. Francis Smart disclosed that it is important to get the right facts in order to propose a Bill for Safe Motherhood and Sexual Reproductive Health that will culminate in a Cabinet Paper awaiting approval.

He stated that in 2015 an Abortion Bill was rejected by the Inter-Religious Councils after being approved by Parliament.

According to Dr. Smart, the progress of the bill gained momentum when the Ministry Health got involved in addressing several issues, adding that in 2018 they came to the conclusion of reviewing issues based on what they learned.

“This time we will partner with the Inter-Religious Council to reduce maternal maternity that will bring development in the country,” he expressed hope.

Dr. Smart said maternal deaths account 23% of all deaths among woman aged 15- 49 years, adding that the maternal mortality ratio is estimated at 717per 100, 00 live births (DHS 2019).

“According to the Sierra Leone demographic and health survey in 2019 the birth rate by females within the age bracket of 15-19 is 102 per1, 000, adding that teenage pregnancy is one of the key drivers of maternal mortality in the country,” he revealed.

He underscored that there is a high rate of teenage pregnancy, girls are not physically mature to give birth and such puts both mothers and their babies at high risk.

Deputy Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Sanitation Philip Kargbo said they will use all the possible and right channels to ensure the process of enacting the bill is pursued.

He disclosed that the Ministry of Health and Sanitation will request the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to prepare the relevant legislative instruments that can address reproductive health issues.

Members of Parliament and representatives of MDAs present stated that they will support the enactment of the bill in Parliament.

During Manifestation of Appreciation… NP-SL CEO Allays Fear of Non-Availability of Petroleum Products

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By Amin Kef Sesay

The erudite Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum –Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd), Ambassador Kobi Walker informed a galaxy of stakeholders within the petroleum sector of the Southern-Eastern and Northern Provinces, in Bo and Makeni, that there is a considerable amount of petroleum products in the country, with particular reference to petrol and diesel. He furthered that in that regard since they are directly interfacing with members of the public they must continue to sell their products which they have in stock.

“There is no need for you to hoard these products because even if there is going to be an increase in the price such will not materialize now as you know that any change in price only takes place at the end of the month,” he stated referring to the PRA monthly review of  prices for petroleum products.

The charismatic personality, who has decades of experience in the oil and gas industry, also intimated that there is no need at this particular moment for any panic buying as such is not advisable for now. He said indeed the war between Russia and Ukraine is having debilitating effects on the supply of petroleum products as 31% of petroleum products is derived from Russia.

He, however, gave the assurance on the back of informing the petroleum stakeholders and by extension the general public that they as importers or marketers within the sector,, engaged the Government represented by an established Committee, headed by the Chief Minister, during which they put across the challenges they are encountering and how Government could step in to keep the flow of petroleum products in the country. Amb Kobi Walker revealed that the meeting was fruitful as the Government faithfully committed to do everything possible to allow them access these products.

The Chief Executive Officer ended up appealing to all Dealers, Station Managers, Pump Attendants and Resellers to do the needful by opening their Filling Stations and continue selling to members of the public.

Ambassador Kobi Walker was among the Management team and some other members of staff in Bo and Makeni who were in those parts of the country over the week end to show appreciation to Dealers and Resellers for standing by the side of the company during thin and thick as well as for excellent performances during 2021.

Before they were awarded Certificates of Appreciation and Excellent Performance, Amb Kobi Walker informed that as a company they cherish the relationship that exists between them and they as dealers and resellers they saw the need to show appreciation to them for their dedication and mainly because of the fact that they are the reason why the company still exists.

“When it is vacation you do not rest unlike others and because of the Supreme Sacrifices you are making you truly deserve appreciation and reward,” he stated and prayed that the relationship will continue to grow from strength to strength.

The indisputable fact remains that NP-SL Ltd is the leading petroleum importing and marketing company operating in the country best known as 1st for Customer Care. The attractiveness of Filling Stations that carry its brand name is so captivating in terms of attracting customers, the neatness of pump attendants, the encouraging ways they treat customers, matching with modern day technology are all components taken into consideration for the indigenous business entity to be considered as 1st for Customer Care.

It goes without saying that NP-SL is among limited indigenous companies in the country that puts premium on optimizing the Local Content Policy by strictly limiting employment to only Sierra Leoneans.

NP-SL Ltd is the only known company to have introduced a Smart Card now known as NP-Smart Card to purchase fuel. The holder of a NP Smart Card only needs to top-up the Card with some amount of money. After that the Card is ready for use: slotted into a space on the pumping machine at a Filling Station and the amount that is required is pumped into a vehicle.

It is a cashless way of conducting transactions and is said to be very safe, economical and helps the holder to strategically plan how much he or she spends on the purchase of fuel for a specific period of time.

With the people oriented mantra in its business style, NP-SL Ltd also has for sale NP Gas. This is a cooking device which has been certified as convenient for cooking purposes. They are manufactured in different cylinder sizes and could be bought at affordable prices at Filling Stations and from authorized dealers. It has been proven that they are environmentally friendly and very fast in terms of high precision.

The company also markets one of the best engine oil which indisputably is Castrol Oil said to be very good for the lubrication of car engines and other engines.

Having established branches in neighbouring Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia where it has Filling Stations operating efficiently, NP-SL Ltd is a Pan-West African business entity that has stood the test of time and making headway in terms of effective service delivery.

The advice given by  the Chief Executive Officer of the Sierra Leone branch, which is the parent body, was indeed done in good faith with a view to discourage artificial scarcity of fuel with the propensity to bring activities in this part of the country to a standstill.

As One of the Guest Judges…   Yulisa Ahmadu Commends Organizers of Housemates Salone

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By Amin Kef Sesay

The four days audition for Housemates Salone Season 3 successfully ended on the 14th March 2022 and indeed the whole exercise was truly entertaining and captivating leaving viewers laughing their sides out as some of the aspirants were speaking Chinese or Jazz when in actual fact they were only required to give simple answers in English.

Some even over dramatized in trying to display the skills or abilities which they claimed they possess and which they strongly believed will take them to the House ending up making mockery of themselves. Others, on the other hand, performed excellently and from responses by the audience it seems that they may likely sail through.

One of the Guest Judges who vetted the applicants, Yulisa Ahmadu better known as ‘Dr Love’ , who is a Sierra Leonean Entrepreneur, Communications Specialist, Entertainment Executive and Relationship Therapist expressed his view to this  medium how he felt to be part of the Panel of Judges.

“I had the pleasure of serving as one of the Guest Judges at the Housemates Sierra Leone Season 3 Reality TV show Audition. It was an amazing weekend indeed,” he  disclosed further extending  thanks to the organizers AYV Media Empire and Africell-SL for coming up with another episode of the Reality TV Show and for getting him involved in the process of empowering young people in the country. He also wished the applicants that went through the audition Good Luck as they await an official pronouncement.

“Let the Game begin as Di Game get Yagba!” Yulisa sounded forward-looking resonating the eagerness lurking in the minds of the vast majority of members of the public in and out of the country who are patiently awaiting the commencement of Housemates Salone Season 3 proper, when the Housemates will be under one roof trying to outsmart each other in order for one of them to emerge the ultimate winner.

It was reliably learnt that the results of the audition exercise will soon be announced.

Materially what the organizers of Housemates Salone Season 3 have to offer are Le250M plus a full round trip to Dubai.

However, deep down the Reality TV Show is geared towards Youth Empowerment. With young Housemates, from different backgrounds confined under one roof , they will be taken through certain mental and physical exercises that will impact their personalities and it is certain that after the competition they will never be the same again.

They stand to benefit from being guided to be motivational speakers, to think critically as well as rationally, how to healthily interact, how to solve problems, to set goals, to cook, how to eat and dress for different occasions, to sing, dance, control emotions and stress. They will have the opportunity to learn from what visiting guests from certain corporate institutions will teach them, learn how to play games and a host of other things that are aligned to coping mechanisms as well as development of strong characters.

Another good thing about the show is that it will put all the Housemates in the spotlight as the Reality TV Show will be viewed by many in and out of the country. People will come to know them, the talents that they possess and what they are capable of doing. The show could be a window of opportunity for the Housemates as some people out there could be interested in tapping the talents that they have seen displayed which could end up in changing their fortunes for life.

For now Housemates Salone is the most talked about upcoming social event that continues to dominate conversations in social circles and many are looking forward to be viewing an entertaining and educative programme from which, it is believed, a lot could be learnt.

Yulisa Ahmadu intimated that judging from the number of applicants , which is up to about eight hundred, there is the likelihood, as it happened during the Season 2 that there will be provision for voting to take place in order to get the final list of those who will enter the House.

Maybe to rephrase one of  Yulisa Ahmadu, alias Dr Love’s longing for the commencement of the show it is but apt to say that since De Game get Yabga en If You Nor Able Na For Pull Hand then let the Game now starts and see whether some heads might roll.

Standard Chartered Vs Sacked Employees – Justice Sengu Koroma Rules against Employers

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By Theresa Kef Sesay

Further to our previous stories on the above subject, on 9th March 2022, after hearing lengthy submissions and authorities from lawyers on both sides, Justice Sengu Koroma, Justice of the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone and President of the Industrial Court, delivered a momentous ruling deciding that Standard Chartered Plc the UK based parent company of Standard Chartered Sierra Leone, are necessary and proper parties in an action brought before his Court.

Two former Senior Management employees, Ibrahim Jubairu Bah, Country Head of Global Banking, Head of Global Subsidiaries and Executive Director and Sulaiman Dauda Lumeh, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Information Officer, Head Retail Banking, Head of Compliance, Business Finance Manager, Business Support Services Manager, aggrieved over their dismissal brought an action claiming damages over USD$ 14,000,000.00. for unfair treatment and conspiracy to ruin their careers and reputations

In his monumental ruling, Justice Koroma concluded that Standard Chartered Plc cannot escape liability by relying on the principle of separate corporate personality based on the evidence before him. In his view, a duty of care was owed to Messrs.’ Bah and Lumeh by Standard Chartered Plc, the breach of which is an important issue the Court has to look into.

The Learned Justice ordered some amendments to the Court papers by solicitors for Messrs.’ Bah and Lumeh and gave 14 days for Standard Chartered Plc’s Solicitors to file a defence to the actions after the amendments.

The General Public may recall that Solicitors for Standard Chartered Plc had filed an application in the High Court of Sierra Leone seeking to have it from the proceedings primarily because even though Standard Chartered Plc is the parent of Standard Chartered Sierra Leone, the two entities are separate and distinct based on the principle of separate corporate personality established in the over 100 years old case of Salomon vs. Salomon, therefore no relationship contractual or otherwise existed between Standard Chartered Plc and Messrs. Bah and Lumeh. Standard Chartered Plc is represented by Ransford Johnson Esq. of Messrs.’ Lambert & Partners, who forcefully argued in support of the application.

Osman Jalloh Esq represents Messrs. Bah and Lumeh, formerly of Yada Williams & Associates, Juella Noldred and Mohamed Jang Jalloh Esq. both of Yada Williams & Associates.

Osman Jalloh Esq., strongly opposed the application and argued that the case before the Court constituted an exception for the Court to lift the veil of separate corporate personality upheld in Salomon case, noting that the Standard Chartered Group was vertically organized, meaning the parent body exercised a very high degree of control over Standard Chartered Sierra Leone and its other subsidiaries and affiliates around the world. The Learned Lawyer submitted that it issues directives, makes rules and regulations that regulate operations of these subsidiaries and affiliates.

He further argued that it is clearly stated in Standard Chartered Plc’s website that it has over 85,000 employees in over 131 countries meaning Messrs.’ Bah and Lumeh are amongst those employees, noting further that employees of Standard Chartered Plc in other countries took a very active part in the decisions to unfairly get rid of his Clients.

He relied heavily on cases decided in the UK, Standard Chartered Plc’s headquarter to reinforce his argument that a duty of care to Messrs.’ Bah and Lumeh was owed by Standard Chartered Plc which he submits had been breached, occasioning damages to them, bringing their professional careers being grinded to a halt which is why his clients are in Court.

In the case of Messrs. Bah and Lumeh, this significant development brings into question the Standard Chartered global mantra, “Here for Good.”

Justice Koroma’s ruling has been described by a very Senior Corporate lawyer who has been in practice in company and employment law in Sierra Leone a paradigm shift. This ruling accordingly sends a loud and clear message to all foreign companies carrying on business in Sierra Leone that while Sierra Leone is open for business, the legitimate interest of employees must be guaranteed and protected by their employers, which is a fundamental human right matter. It is now becoming crystal clear to foreign companies operating in Sierra Leone that their conduct around employee relations must align with the county’s Laws, and any breach will no longer go unchecked.

He concluded that from now onwards, if a branch of a foreign company carrying on business in Sierra Leone commits wrongful acts against Sierra Leoneans, in appropriate circumstances, redress can be sought against such parent foreign company directly.

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